NOACs reduced the risk of stroke or systemic embolic events compared to warfarin in patients with diabetes (HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.69-0.93), with similar benefits in those without diabetes.
Meta-Analysis (n=58,634)
Do NOACs reduce stroke/SEE and major bleeding compared to warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation, and is this effect modified by the presence of diabetes mellitus?
NOACs are more effective and safer than warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation, regardless of the presence of diabetes mellitus.
Hazard Ratio: 0.8 (95% CI 0.69–0.93)
AIMS: Concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF) and diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of stroke and systemic embolic events (SEE). This meta-analysis assessed the benefit/risk balance of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) vs. warfarin, and explored whether there was effect modification by DM or heterogeneity in outcomes between NOACs in patients with and without DM. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a meta-analysis of 58 634 patients from four Phase 3 trials of NOAC vs. warfarin in patients with AF, comparing the primary outcomes of efficacy and safety and six other secondary outcomes in patients stratified by the presence of DM. Interaction testing was used to assess for heterogeneity of treatment effects. A meta-regression was performed to evaluate the influence of baseline characteristics. NOACs reduced the risk of stroke/SEE in 18 134 patients with DM hazard ratio (HR) 0.80; 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.69-0.93), I2 3.90 to a similar degree as in 40 500 patients without DM HR 0.82; 95% CI (0.74-0.91), I2 16.33; P-int 0.81. There was no effect modification of DM on the relative reduction with NOACs vs. warfarin in major bleeding (DM: 0.95, 95% CI 0.75-1.20, I2 43.83; no DM: 0.83, 95% CI 0.55-1.24; I2 87.90; P-int 0.37). Intracranial haemorrhage (HRs 0.51 and 0.47, P-int 0.70) and cardiovascular death (HRs 0.87 and 0.90, P-int 0.70) were significantly reduced by NOACs in the presence or absence of DM. CONCLUSION: Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants are more effective and safer than warfarin in AF patients with or without DM. Absent contraindications, NOACs should be the anticoagulation treatment choice in patients with diabetes.
Plitt et al. (Thu,) conducted a meta-analysis in Atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus (n=58,634). Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) vs. Warfarin was evaluated on Stroke and systemic embolic events (SEE) in patients with diabetes mellitus (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.69-0.93). NOACs reduced the risk of stroke or systemic embolic events compared to warfarin in patients with diabetes (HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.69-0.93), with similar benefits in those without diabetes.